The nominees for the 2010 Juno Awards have been announced and the list is a little underwhelming to say the least.

Metric missed out on a nomination for Single Of The Year but were shortlisted for Alternative Album and Group Of The Year

This year’s nominations for the award ceremony taking place this April in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, are dominated by Michael Bublé and Justin Bieber (who’s more annoying?) in what is the weakest list of Juno nominees I have ever seen. The nominations for Single Of The Year are particularly meagre – I’d argue that Gimme Sympathy by Metric is one glaring omission in this category; it’s a better song and has enjoyed just as much radio play as the five nominated songs. And what about K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag”? Globally speaking, K’Naan’s single is the most significant of any Canadian artist for sometime, what with being the official anthem of this year’s FIFA World Cup – sure, it’s by know means a classic football song, but it certainly beats the likes of Ricky Martin’s “La Copa de la Vida”… remember that one?

There are plenty of other dubious choices, including Hedley somehow getting nominated for Group Of The Year. And for Album Of The Year, it would have been nice to see some credit given to one to some of the rising Canadian indie artists, like Wooden Sky for If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone – I can’t see how anyone who has hit puberty could prefer Justin Bieber’s My World over this, but I guess there is no accounting for taste or underdeveloped hearing.

There are a few nominations that give this year’s Juno’s some kind of credibility, such as Arkell’s nomination for Best New Group, but at the same time Nickelback somehow made it among the nominees for Best Rock Album – I would point the finger at the judges from CARAS for this (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), were it not for the fact that the nominations for this category are now decided based on 50% sales and 50% judge’s vote.

This year’s Juno nominations make me glad that Canada now has the Polaris Music Prize to rival the Juno’s.

Canada didn’t make it to the 2010 World Cup but that’s not gonna stop K’Naan from keeping the flag waving…

Single Of The Year Nominations
“Rusted From the Rain” – Billy Talent
“Anybody Listening” – Classified
“Best I Ever Had” – Drake
“Haven’t Met You Yet” – Michael Buble
“Love Is A First” – The Tragically Hip

Album Of The Year Nominations
Billy Talent - III
Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
Johnny Ried – Dance With Me
Justin Bieber – My World
Michael Buble – Crazy Love

Group Of The Year Nominees
Billy Talent
Blue Rodeo
Hedley
Metric
The Tragically Hip

Related links:
Juno Awards – Official Website For full list of nominations